Alex Achenbach, RB, Williams Valley: The Vikings are never hesitant to lean on their big dogs and boy did they ever Friday night against Upper Dauphin when Achenbach toted the rock a whopping 40 times for 230 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 28-0 shutout against Upper Dauphin.

Noah Porter, RB, Tri-Valley: Porter did it all for Tri-Valley Friday night against Minersville in a 38-34 loss. The 210-pound junior rushed for 154 stripes on 28 carries and hauled in four receptions for another 79 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Aiden Hess, QB, Catasauqua:  In a 48-22 victory Friday night against Northern Lehigh, Hess completed a tidy 64.7 percent of his passes—11-of 17— for 208 yards and five touchdowns. That’s a QB rating of 146.6 if you’re keeping track at home. Oh, and Hess added four carries for another 44 yards and a touchdown on the night. Not too shabby.

Luke Stevenosky, Minersville: In a tight battle against Tri-Valley Friday night, the Battlin’ Miners senior back delivered. Stevenosky ended the evening with 25 carries for 131 yards and  three touchdowns in a 38-34 victory.

Alex Moser, Pen Argyl: When Green Knights QB Brad Rissmiller needed a big play, he knew just who to turn to Friday night against Wilson Area.  Enter Alex Moser. The 6-1, 160-pound senior hauled in just three passes on the evening, but he sure made the most of his opportunities in a 49-20 victory. Moser broke loose for a 90-yard touchdown—one of two TDs on an evening that tallied 148 total receiving yards.

Passing:

Aiden Hess, Catasauqua: 11-17, 208 yards, 5 TDs

Blake Schwartz, Tri-Valley: 11-20, 180 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT

Brad Rissmiller, Pen Aryl: 6-6, 179 yards, 2 TDs

Tyler Miller, Blue Mountain: 7-11, 178 yards, 2 TDs

Dante Carr, Minersville: 6-15, 165 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

Greg Campbell, Bangor: 9-12, 133 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT

Bruce Hopeck, Marian Catholic: 5-11, 114 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT

Rushing:

Alex Achenbach, Williams Valley: 40-230, 2 TDs

Noah Porter, Tri-Valley: 28-154

Jayden Fermin, Marian Catholic: 15-142, 1 TD

Luke Stevenosky, Minersville: 25-131, 3 TDs

Grady Newhard, Northern Lehigh: 21-128, 1 TD

Payton Fasnacht, Blue Mountain: 16-95, 1 TD

Niko Carestia, Schuylkill Haven: 16-91

Hunter Reitz, Catasauqua: 11-84

Jason St. Leger, Salisbury Township: 8-78, 1 TD

Receiving:

Alex Moser, Pen Argyl: 3-148, 2 TDs

Ian Juica, Catasaqua: 7-146, 4 TDs

Lorenzo Yourey, Minersville: 3-87, 1 TD

Will Jacobson, Blue Mountain: 2-80, 1 TD

Noah Porter, Tri-Valley: 4-79, 2 TDs

Layne Yoder, Tri-Valley: 5-61, 1 TD

Vote now for your 4th Down Magazine Mid-Penn Conference Player of the Week. Our poll will remain open until Tuesday evening at 11 p.m. Voting is allowed once every 30 minutes.

Editor’s note: We have implemented safeguards to prevent voting which falls outside the spirit of the rules in place. We reserve the right to block users who cast fraudulent votes.

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High School Football: Andy Shay’s Sunday Morning QB looks back on Week 1 in the Mid-Penn Conference

Messiah Mickens, so., RB, Trinity: The recent Penn State verbal commit kicked off his second varsity season with a bang, rushing for 185 yards and adding 66 receiving in the Shamrocks’ 49-12 rout of Delone Catholic. Mickens scored twice on the ground and once more through the air.

Ronald Burnette, sr., RB, Steel-High: Burnette scored a couple late touchdowns and finished with 23 carries for 157 yards in a 42-27 win over Imani Christian. Burnette rushed to pay dirt from 50 and 24 yards out in the second half to ice the victory.

Angel Cabrera, sr., RB, Hershey: Cabrera ripped off three touchdowns, finishing 19 for 167 on the ground and three touchdowns. His every yard and score was pivotal in the Trojans’ 36-35 win over Gettysburg.

Nehemiah Ewell, yr., RB, Harrisburg: Ewell became one of the first 200-yard rushers of the season in the Cougars’ 50-20 win over York High on Saturday. Ewell got there with a pair of long TD runs in the fourth quarter, covering 49 and 84 yards, to finish with 10 carries for 207 stripes (and a 5-yard reception).

Connor Green, sr., RB/DB, Big Spring: Green displayed strong two-way play, rushing for 140 yards and two TDs on 17 carries while chipping in nine tackles on defense. But the Bulldogs lost 17-14 to Greencastle-Antrim. 

Brady Heiser, jr., QB, Gettysburg: Heiser kicked off a potential breakout junior season with nearly 300 combined yards in a 36-35 loss to Hershey. He finished 16 of 25 for 178 yards and two TDs, plus he added nine carries for 121 stripes and a rushing score. 

Justin Kaplan, jr., RB, Palmyra: Kaplan nearly became one of the first 200-yard rushers of the young season when he shredded Lebanon for 192 stripes and a pair of scores on 11 carries. The Cougars won 51-7. 

Keith Oates III, sr., QB, East Pennsboro: The Panthers cruised to a 37-6 win over York Suburban thanks in part to Oates’ multiple talents. He went 12 of 22 for 222 yards and two touchdowns (44 and 24 yards) and rushed for another short score. On defense he added a sack.

Micah Reeves, sr., DL, Camp Hill: Our first defensive star of this season’s polls. Reeves finished with three sacks in a 21-0 win over Newport and jumped to the top of the Mid-Penn Conference lead in that category with that effort. Those were his only three tackles of the night.

Eli Reider, jr., QB, Mechanicsburg: Reider completed 25 passes for 301 yards and a pair of scores in the Wildcats’ 35-28 loss to Carlisle. The first TD went for 22 yards to give Mechanicsburg the first points of the season, while adding a short TD pass in the second half.

Erik Schriver, sr., RB, Cedar Cliff: Schriver plowed in for three TDs of 5, 7 and 4 yards and finished with 136 stripes on 21 totes to lead the Colts to a 29-13 win over Shippensburg to start the season.

Rico Scott, sr., WR, Bishop McDevitt: The future Power Five talent opened his season with a nine-reception, 124-yard, two-TD performance as the Crusaders edged out a 20-14 win over Mount St. Joseph (Maryland).

Finding that signature result that was a standout above all the others to open the 2023 season just didn’t materialize. There were plenty of results that required further review to clarify the outcome, but that one jaw-dropping result just wasn’t in the cards this year.

That does not, however, mean there wasn’t plenty going on that warrants a little Week 1 Sunday Morning Quarterback analysis.

I’m going to start with Central Dauphin. The Rams are coming off a three-win season and looking to find their way back into the relevancy conversation. With Key’Ron Plummer back under center after missing the final seven games in 2022, the Rams will have more than offensive punch and horsepower. That defense might be a cause for concern, though.

I get it was an FBS recruit, Central York running back Juelz Goff, that obliterated the CD defense at The Speedway. The Pitt recruit was too solid inside the tackles and too fast in the open field. He finished with six touchdowns and 279 rushing yards on 27 carries in 45-35 Central York victory. The path to better results for CD starts and ends on the defensive side of the ball — that was pretty clear.

Bishop McDevitt looked lethargic, sloppy and slightly underprepared for Mount St. Joseph (Maryland). The Crusaders still have better dudes than most, and when it mattered, in the fourth quarter, Alabama recruit Rico Scott took over the game with a pair of touchdown receptions inside the final 10 minutes to secure a come-from-behind victory.

The offense won’t sputter at this level over the course of the next nine weeks. That much we know. Remember, the War Eagle D for the Crusaders is a game-wrecker, and in this one they were the real difference maker on a night when the state title banner was unveiled at The Roc. The Gaels managed only one touchdown offensively and finished with 21 rushing attempts for a net 1 yard.

For the third straight game in 12 months, state-ranked Trinity took Delone Catholic out behind the woodshed. This time it was the combination of QB Caleb Wray and star RB Messiah Mickens who lit up the Squires in a game the T-Rocks won by 37 points.

Mickens, a sophomore who is already committed to Penn State, rolled up 251 total yards and a pair of touchdowns while Wray threw for 208 yards and a trio of touchdowns.

Head coach Jordan Hill has the right mix of elite talent and experience this season, and expectations are rightly high for the gents from Shiremanstown.

Hershey gets a shout out for grabbing a one-point victory over a rebuilding Gettysburg squad that still has an elite quarterback. Big win for the Trojans. Any field goal to win inside the final 200 seconds of a game is big. Cole Goodman’s 32 yarder deep into the final quarter was the difference on the scoreboard.

Carlisle outlasted Mechanicsburg by a touchdown to give new Herd head coach Brandon Cook victory No. 1. Marquise Miller’s three touchdowns were a difference maker for Carlisle. Miller will have to do that on a consistent basis for the Herd to compete in the Commonwealth Division. Despite the loss, Wildcats newjack quarterback Eli Reider threw for 301 yards and three touchdowns. A very good sign for the Wildcats moving forward.

With expectations sky high in Elliottsburg, all West Perry did breaking in a couple new backs behind veteran quarterback Marcus Quaker was score 45 points and cruise to a three-score victory over Susquenita. The Blackhawks were competitive throughout and will be a player in the chase for the Liberty Division title if they continue to put points on the board.

All the following results turned out pretty much as expected. And for the winners there is absolutely nothing wrong with a “solid victory” to open the season. Camp Hill blanking Newport and winning by 21 points; Cedar Cliff having more push in the trenches to hold Shippensburg at arms length and win by 16; East Pennsboro taking out York Suburban by the mercy rule; Lower Dauphin clobbering Middletown by 45 is not unexpected at all; and State College having little trouble with Williamsport to win by four touchdowns.

The Pennsylvania high school football season kicks off tonight, and there’s so much to look forward to in 2023 — especially in the Mid-Penn Conference.

The league features multiple returning PIAA champions, semifinalists and surprises from a season ago, and many of those teams look poised to be right there at the finish come December. It’s got the makings of one of the most entertaining seasons in recent memory, and there have been some dandies of late.

This year, 4th Down Magazine is launching a live blog every Friday to give you a one-stop shop to track every score in the midstate, from Mid-Penn squads to former Tri-Valley League teams now in the Colonial-Schuylkill League. Be sure to check back in constantly for the latest updates, highlights and scores throughout the night. And if you’ve missed any of the previews leading up to opening kickoff for your favorite team, we’ve got you covered.

Happy football season, let’s have a good one.

PIAA football: Week 1 Mid-Penn analysis, staff picks and previews

Each week 4th Down Magazine will preview the weekend slate, predict the winners and provide extra analysis. Here’s everything to get you ready for Week 1 of the PIAA high school football season:

• Who’s gonna win? The 4th Down crew picks Week 1’s matchups
• Elite 11: See Andy Shay’s preseason District 3 power rankings
• Mid-Penn Commonwealth breakdown: Top players, predicted standings and more
• Mid-Penn Keystone breakdown: Top players, predicted standings and more
• Mid-Penn Colonial breakdown: Top players, predicted standings and more
• Mid-Penn Capital breakdown: Top players, predicted standings and more
• Mid-Penn Liberty breakdown: Top players, predicted standings and more

Mid-Penn Conference football schedule and scores: Week 1 results

Looking for the latest updates and final scores from this weekend’s games around the Harrisburg area? We have you covered:

Friday’s games

• York Tech 14, James Buchanan 7 (Final)
• Hollidaysburg 21, Altoona 13 (Final)
• Carlisle 35, Mechanicsburg 28(Final)
• Central York 45, Central Dauphin 35 (Final)
• CD East 55, Reading 6 (Final)
• Pope John Paul II 22, Chambersburg 0 (Final)
• Manheim Township 35, Cumberland Valley 6 (Final)
• State College 49, Williamsport 20 (Final)
• Bishop McDevitt 20, Mount Saint Joseph 14 (Final)
• Lower Dauphin 45, Middletown 0 (Final)
• Cedar Cliff 29, Shippensburg 13 (Final)
• Northern 13, Red Land 7 (Final)
• Hershey 36, Gettysburg 35 (Final)
• Milton Hershey 35, Susquehanna Township 34 (Final)
• Palmyra 50, Lebanon 7 (Final)
• Mifflin County 41, Central Mountain 6 (Final)
• Greencastle-Antrim 17, Big Spring 14 (Final)
• Littlestown 23, Boiling Springs 8 (Final)
• Camp Hill 21, Newport 0 (Final)
• Trinity 49, Delone Catholic 12 (Final)
• West Perry 45, Susquenita 22 (Final)
• Waynesboro 21, Spring Grove 3 (Final)
• Hamburg 49, Halifax 19 (Final)
• Line Mountain 54, Athens 12 (Final)
• Williams Valley 28, Upper Dauphin 0 (Final)
• Pine Grove 20, Northern Lebanon 14 (Final)
• Minersville 38, Tri-Valley 34 (Final)
• East Pennsboro 37, York Suburban 6 (Final)

Saturday’s games

• Steel-High 42, Imani Christian Academy 27 (Final)
• Troy 56, Juniata 21 (Final)
• Harrisburg 50, York 20

Pennsylvania high school football live updates and highlights

Top to bottom, the Mid-Penn Conference is stacked with talent that will find its way to football fields across the country on Saturdays. 

There are obvious talents like Bishop McDevitt QB Stone Saunders, who recently verbally committed to Kentucky. But the glam positions aren’t the only ones with next-level talent. 

With the 2023 PIAA high school football season days away from kicking off, here are 21 players from every division of the Mid-Penn who have caught recruiters’ eyes and are worth watching on Friday nights. Not every top recruit is included to provide a mix from Commonwealth studs to Liberty standouts, and more players are sure to establish themselves as bona fide stars this fall. Who else do you think should be mentioned?

(Names are listed alphabetically.)

Jarome Benjamin, OL/DL, Gettysburg

Year: Senior

Recruiting status: Unranked recruit holds an offer from Albright

Scouting report: Between Benjamin and a teammate we’ll see shortly on this list, the Warriors have a pair of big space-eaters with multiple college offers. Benjamin can line up at tackle and guard on the o-line and routinely stands up defensive lineman. 

Kevin Brown, Harrisburg

Year: Sophomore

Recruiting status: 4-star recruit holds offers from Penn State, Pitt, West Virginia and several other Division I programs

Scouting report: Keep an eye on the years and positions of the top Commonwealth prospects, because you’ll sense a theme. Brown checked in last week as one of three Pennsylvania products in the Class of 2026 to make 247Sports’ initial Top 100. His game film proves why. Brown, who played right tackle last year, moves well laterally and gets to the second level to open up big holes in the run game or on screens better than most linemen his age and size. The Cougars seem to have a lot of fun using him as a blocking weapon.

Aubrey Carter, DL, Susquehanna Township

Year: Senior

Recruiting status: Unranked recruit holds offers from Lehigh, Navy, Miami (Ohio), Central Michigan and other Division I programs

Scouting report: Group of Five and FCS schools have been all over the game-wrecking lineman, who shows a penchant in his highlights for penetrating the gaps not because of his power but because of an impressively quick first step that routinely beats guards to the point of attack. Carter’s speed is also on display chasing down terrified quarterbacks or swallowing up running backs before they can bounce a run outside. 

Lex Cyrus, WR, Susquehanna Township

Year: Junior

Recruiting status: Unranked recruit holds offers from Penn State, Wisconsin, Pitt, Texas A&M and other Division I programs

Scouting report: ‘Hanna looks like the runaway favorite for the Mid-Penn Colonial title, and Cyrus will be a big reason why. Few in the state have his level of speed — he set the District 3 100-meter record in the spring. Everything portends his first 1,000-yard season and a breakout campaign for a skilled pass catcher who already has the attention of multiple Power Five programs. More could be on the way.

Jaceb Dickerson, DL, Gettysburg

Year: Senior

Recruiting status: Unranked recruit holds offers from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Carnegie Mellon, University of Chicago

Scouting report: Mostly rushing off the edge, Dickerson is more than just a lineman who can plug up space for his linebackers to get all the glory. He had 66 tackles (13 TFLs) and 3 ½ sacks last season in just eight games and has good burst to blow up plays.

Alex Erby, QB, Steel-High

Year: Senior

Recruiting status: 3-star recruit holds offers from Pitt, Nebraska, Louisville, Maryland, Minnesota and other Division I programs

Scouting report: Erby has a chance to lead the Rollers to their third PIAA Class 1A championship in four years, and a good one at that. The Power Five recruit, who should make his decision sometime this season or shortly after, is on pace to become the greatest Steel-High QB in history and one of the best the Mid-Penn has seen. He threw for 3,389 yards and 40 touchdowns last season en route to his second state title.

Andrew Erby Jr., OL/DL, Steel-High

Year: Senior

Recruiting status: 3-star recruit holds offers from Penn State, Nebraska, Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio and other Division I programs

Scouting report: Alex’s brother, Erby Jr. is a destructive force in his own right in the trenches. On offense, he can line up along the line and even as a hulking fullback to open up cavernous running lanes and provide time for his brother to survey the field. On defense, he recorded an eye-popping 11 sacks in his junior season and has caught the eye of several marquee college programs, including Penn State. 

Michael Gaul, LB, State College

Year: Junior

Recruiting status: Unranked recruit holds Division I offers from Virginia Tech, Akron, Connecticut and Toledo

Scouting report: Gaul plays wide receiver on offense and uses that speed to his advantage on defense, where he can combine it with power to lay some devastating hits. But his film shows an athlete who doesn’t just fly into the backfield; he’s patient at the line of scrimmage and waits for the right moment to plug a hole and swallow up running backs. No wonder he had more than 120 tackles last year and is catching on with college scouts. 

Derek Gibney, QB/P, Susquenita

Year: Senior

Recruiting status: Unranked recruit has received interest from Juniata, Colgate and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy

Scouting report: Gibney has a chance to lead the Blackhawks, predicted by 4th Down Magazine to finish third in the Liberty Division this year, to a run at the division crown if he can follow up on an impressive junior season that saw him throw for 1,655 yards and 14 touchdowns against 11 interceptions (he added 315 yards and six TDs rushing). Such a performance should surely solidify college interest in the veteran and land him a home playing on Saturdays.

Zachary Mell, DL, Big Spring

Year: Senior

Recruiting status: Unranked recruit holds offers from Misericordia and Juniata

Scouting report: The Bulldogs sure do like to produce top-notch defenders, and Mell looks like the next one likely to find himself on a football field on Saturdays. He picked up his first two offers in recent months, and if he can follow up a junior season that saw him register 2 ½ sacks and 56 tackles (9 ½ for loss), more should be on the way.

Tyler Merrill, OT, Cumberland Valley

Year: Sophomore

Recruiting status: 4-star recruit holds Power Five offers from Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan and several others

Scouting report: The Commonwealth has quite a few linemen set to play at the next level, including a couple Power Five recruits. Merrill can make the case as the best of them all, or soon could. The 2026 recruit has multiple Big Ten (Big Eighteen?) offers already and is poised to be the anchor of an Eagles team that looks like it might rely on the run a bit more this season. He played on both sides of CV’s line as a freshman and projects at tackle at the next level, with an impressive burst into the second level and immense power at such a young age.

Messiah Mickens, RB, Trinity

Year: Sophomore

Recruiting status: 4-star recruit verbally committed Sunday to Penn State over offers from Texas A&M, Ohio State, Alabama and other Power Five programs

Scouting report: When 247Sports released its initial Class of 2026 rankings, Mickens debuted as the 30th overall prospect in the nation and the best in PA. The offers (see above) tells half the story, while the tape tells the rest. After landing an offer from the Aggies before his first varsity play from scrimmage, Mickens put together an impressive rookie season of 961 rushing yards, 200 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns. He’s nearly impossible for defenses to contain, is slippery even at full speed and displays tackle-breaking power even when swarmed in the backfield.

Marcus Quaker, QB, West Perry

Year: Senior

Recruiting status: Unranked recruit holds an offer from Penn

Scouting report: It seems like the Mid-Penn has been talking about Quaker for a decade, that’s how long he’s been dominating up in Perry County. With an Ivy League offer in his back pocket, Quaker can cap off one of the best four-year stretches in Mustangs history. Last season he led West Perry to arguably its best season ever, going 11-2 and making the District 3 Class 3A final. He threw for 2,021 yards, ran for another 1,240 and accounted for an overwhelming 45 touchdowns.

Jaire Rawlison, DB, Bishop McDevitt

Year: Senior

Recruiting status: Unranked recruit has verbally committed to Kent State

Scouting report: There are going to be a lot of Crusaders on this list, but it’s hard to discount the overwhelming talent they have on both sides of the ball. Rawlison and a teammate coming up very soon make up half of a defensive backfield with multiple Division I offers that terrorized offenses last year. He returned two interceptions for scores last season and recorded two tackles. Rawlison holds nearly a dozen offers beyond his verbal to Kent State.

Chase Regan, DB, Bishop McDevitt

Year: Senior

Recruiting status: Unranked recruit has verbally committed to James Madison

Scouting report: Meet the other half of McDevitt’s dynamic defensive backfield. Regan, a JMU commit with more than a dozen other FCS offers, recorded 55 tackles (10 for loss) from his safety spot and also caught a pair of interceptions for the defending state champs last season. He’s able to plant his foot decisively and close in on short passes and running backs and wraps up well in the open field. He also can score as a punt returner and break containment on the edge with his speed.

Anthony Robsock, OT, Central Dauphin

Year: Senior

Recruiting status: 3-star recruit verbally committed to Maryland

Scouting report: Let’s add some Commonwealth veteran savvy to this list with Robsock, who holds several FCS and FBS offers and has chosen to head south of the state border to join the Terrapins. The Rams look like a team primed for a big bounceback in 2023, and Robsock can anchor a lot of that effort on the offensive end especially, along with another D-I teammate in James Madison pledge Evan Bushong.

Stone Saunders, QB, Bishop McDevitt

Year: Junior

Recruiting status: 3-star recruit has verbally committed to Kentucky

Scouting report: Saunders will join Kentucky in two years and play for a Liam Coen-led offense that has a penchant for bringing the best out of QBs. In the meantime, he’s got a chance to put up some truly crooked career numbers. He already has 6,620 yards and 100 TDs and was named the PA Gatorade Player of the Year in 2022. He’s got seemingly unlimited weapons around him, sure, to make life easy for him, but it takes a special talent to make McDevitt’s offense hum the way he does.

Rico Scott, WR, Bishop McDevitt

Year: Senior

Recruiting status: 4-star recruit has verbally committed to Alabama

Scouting report: The third-ranked prospect in the state heading to Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide over more than a dozen Power Five offers, Scott is one of the most exciting players to watch on Friday night’s right now. He caught 66 passes for 1,184 yards and 18 touchdowns last season and led the Crusaders to the PIAA Class 4A championship. Scott has breakaway speed before and after catching the ball and displays soft hands, and he’s really good at getting open off-script when the play breaks down.

D’Antae Sheffey, RB, State College

Year: Sophomore

Recruiting status: Unranked recruit holds Power Five offers from Pitt, Syracuse, Cincinnati, Virginia Tech and other Division I programs

Scouting report: The Commonwealth has a few future Division I players (what else is new?), but none bring more juice on Friday nights than Sheffey, who exploded onto the scene last year as a freshman. He’s an easy all-state candidate again this year after putting together the Little Lions’ fourth-best rushing total in a season ever (1,725 yards), while adding 24 total touchdowns. Those are some incredible numbers for a division that makes it very hard for running backs.

Nick Slogik, Edge, Bishop McDevitt

Year: Senior

Recruiting status: 3-star recruit has verbally committed to Eastern Carolina

Scouting report: Mid-Penn baseball fans will recognize this name. Slogik originally committed to the Pittsburgh Panthers’ baseball team but has since flipped to ECU football, over several other D-I offers, including Maryland and Syracuse. Playing mostly as a three-down defensive end for the Crusaders, he sheds blocks easily and is disruptive in run defense or pass rushing.

Amil Way, DB, Trinity

Year: Junior

Recruiting status: Unranked recruit holds offers from Central Michigan and West Virginia

Scouting report: Way’s best trait on film appears to be his ability to fight off receivers with his size to get to the ball or to shed a block to make a tackle on a ball carrier flying around the edge. He can play in single coverage and win more often than not, finishing last season with 52 tackles and eight interceptions. Trinity stunned almost everyone to finish with a 10-5 season and make the PIAA Class 2A semifinals, thanks in part to Way’s shutdown defense, and could be in line for another big season in the Capital Division.

EXPLAINING OUR PICKS: The 4th Down Magazine crew picks all games involving Mid-Penn Conference teams, as well as Schuylkill-Colonial League games featuring former members of the now-defunct Twin Valley Conference. Starting with the state semifinals, our pickers get really bold and predict all the games. And, after 10 weeks of regular season and six weeks of playoffs, the season is officially over. Congrats to the six PIAA champs, all of the district champs, division champs, and everybody else who suited up and gave their all last season. Of course, we must also give a shoutout to Mr. 4th Down, Adam Kulikowski, who somehow found time between his day job and working tirelessly to keep the 4th Down Magazine website updated and running to actually WIN our picks title! The dude is amazing! (And he’s almost certainly going down this year because the Andys won’t stand for a repeat!)

2023 Standings

Picker: Week 1 – Overall – Perfect Picks
Adam Kulikowski: 25-6 — 25-6 — 0

Andy Sandrik: 25-6 — 23-6 — 0

Andy Shay: 23-8 — 21-8 — 0

* Records in parentheses after school name; District and seed in parentheses before school name.

View our team previews:

Commonwealth

Keystone

Capital

Colonial

Liberty

View our Preseason Elite 11 rankings

FRIDAY, AUG. 25

Hollidaysburg 21, Altoona 13

Andy Shay: Altoona 26, Hollidaysburg 20: I’m going to bank on the vets and playmakers residing on the defensive side of the ball for Altoona providing enough to start the season with a W. Won’t be an easy opener, either.

Andy Sandrik: Altoona 28, Hollidaysburg 17: There are a lot of scrappers on the Altoona roster looking to prove they belong on the field in the Commonwealth Division. The first test for these guys will be a difficult one against their rivals from Hollidaysburg.

Adam Kulikowski: Altoona 38, Hollidaysburg 14: Hollidaysburg hasn’t beaten the Mountain Lions since 2020 — a streak that will continue for another circuit. 

Carlisle 35, Mechanicsburg 28

Andy Shay: Carlisle 20, Mechanicsburg 14: Both teams are replacing a good bit of their known talent, so early bumps are expected. The list of newbies for the Wildcats is much longer, and that gives the Herd a slight edge.

Andy Sandrik: Carlisle 28, Mechanicsburg 10: Both teams are rebuilding to a certain degree, but I still think Carlisle is about two steps ahead of the ‘Cats.

Adam Kulikowski: Carlisle 24, Mechanicsburg 14: First-year head coach Brandon Cook will look to build on back-to-back playoff appearances by the Thundering Herd when the 2023 circuit kicks off Friday. Finding ways to get the rock to their key playmaker, Carson Swartz, will be key in the opener for the gents in green and white. 

Central York 45, Central Dauphin 35

Andy Shay: Central Dauphin 28, Central York 27: The Rams are coming off a three-win campaign and spent the offseason pressing a big reset button. Getting their QB back from an injury that cost him most of last season will help the offense. Central York is the favorite and has earned that. So this is an upset should CD pull it off.

Andy Sandrik: Central York 21, Central Dauphin 14: When’s the last time Central York had a down season? It seems like no matter how much talent the Panthers lose each year, they come back stronger than ever the following season. Central Dauphin does have a group of men in the trenches that could make this a tight contest.

Adam Kulikowski: Central York 21, Central Dauphin 17: Prior to last season’s 3-7 campaign, the Rams never had a losing season under coach Glen McNamee’s guidance. You can bet the Rams are ready to turn the page on 2022. This one, however, might not be the first step in that revival.

CD East 55, Reading 6

Andy Shay: CD East 25, Reading 20: When you lose all six of your all-star players from a three-win team, you are fighting an uphill battle again for sure. Wins are going to be hard to come by, and this is a 50-50 game all the way.

Andy Sandrik: Reading 27, CD East 21: Tough road game for an unproven CD East squad against a Reading team that is also young but brings back a lot of talent.

Adam Kulikowski: CD East 28, Reading 13: On a squad hit hard by graduation, Lance Deane’s returning class is highlighted by a pair of standout defenders in Jared Porter and Xavier Armstrong in the secondary. What other pieces emerge in Deane’s third run as head coach will determine how far this team can go. 

Pope John Paul II 22, Chambersburg 0

Andy Shay: Pope John Paul II 42, Chambersburg 14: Staring down the barrel of a 10-win team from a year ago that still has some key pieces in the fold is a mighty large ask of the Trojans, who have skill players but are green as summer grass up front both ways.

Andy Sandrik: Pope John Paul II 36, Chambersburg 14: Plenty of fun athletes to watch for the Trojans if they can find a line to run behind. Not sure they’re going to find it right away in this tough opener, though.

Adam Kulikowski: Pope John Paul II 48, Chambersburg 21: Four of PJPII’s top five tacklers and their three top playmakers on offense all are suiting back up for the 2023 campaign. Experience pays early in the season, and the Golden Panthers possess it.

Manheim Township 35, Cumberland Valley 6

Andy Shay: Manheim Township 34, Cumberland Valley 14: I have zero doubts the Eagles can hang in the trenches with the Blue Streaks. When it comes to skill positions, though, the Blue Streaks right now are a mile ahead and that will show up late in a game that I expect to be competitive well into the second half.

Andy Sandrik: Manheim Township 28, Cumberland Valley 21: I’ve been seeing the Eagles post weight-room updates all summer and get the sense they’re going to have a heck of a line this fall. Is that enough to topple the Blue Streaks, who are deep in the skill positions?

Adam Kulikowski: Manheim Township 41, Cumberland Valley 20: The Blue Streaks return one of the best QB-WR tandems in District 3 in Hayden Johnson (QB) and Declan Clancy (WR), a duo that connected for 13 TDs and nearly 1,000 yards last season.

State College 49, Williamsport 20

Andy Shay: State College 42, Williamsport 7: Will the Little Lions ride with one signal caller this season? The formula recently was to mix-and-match, and it produced results. They have a star at running back to lean on and a defense that leans on offenses trying to find their way.

Andy Sandrik: State College 35, Williamsport 7: It’s still hard for me to imagine a world where a freshman is as good as D’Antae Sheffey was running the ball for State College last season. He’s only going to be better this time around, right?

Adam Kulikowski: State College 34, Williamsport 14: The Little Lions turn the reins over to senior QB Owen Yerka, a lad who did get some time under center last year. Look for Matt Lintal to lean on his stud back, D’Antae Sheffey, as Yerka gets comfortable at the helm.

Bishop McDevitt 20, Mount Saint Joseph (Md.) 14

Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 30, Mount Saint Joseph 21: Enjoy the elite high school quarterbacks that will be featured in this matchup. Couple of really, really good ones who will be facing arguably their toughest test of the regular season right out of the gate.

Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 28, Mount Saint Joseph 21: I make a lot of jokes at McDevitt’s expense for their cakewalk through the Keystone Division, but I respect the Crusaders for taking the initiative to schedule high-quality non-conference games like these.

Adam Kulikowski: Bishop McDevitt 34, Mount Saint Joseph 27: There aren’t many games on the docket in Week 1 with the type of QB matchup this one features. On one side, the Crusaders will trot out Kentucky commit Stone Saunders, a known pedigree. For the Baltimore-based Mount Saint Joseph, they have a good one themselves in Winston Watkins. He racked up more than 2,000 passing yards with 23 TDs and just five interceptions in 2022.

Lower Dauphin 45, Middletown 0

Andy Shay: Lower Dauphin 28, Middletown 10: Going with the Falcons’ defense and the nine returning starters to be more than enough to slow down a Blue Raiders program that has picked up the pieces and will be starting from scratch after a year on the sidelines.

Andy Sandrik: Lower Dauphin 28, Middletown 7: Lower Dauphin stud RB Ty Millhimes will test each and every defender in the re-assembled Middletown lineup. That factor alone should push the Falcons to a convincing win.

Adam Kulikowski: Lower Dauphin 21, Middletown 20: If you know what to expect with this one, props to you. Middletown makes its return to the field after the doors were shuttered last year following a hazing incident while Lower Dauphin continues to make strides in its rebuild. 

Cedar Cliff 29, Shippensburg 13

Andy Shay: Cedar Cliff 31, Shippensburg 14: Simply put, the Colts have significantly fewer questions to answer than the Greyhounds, and defensively Cedar Cliff brings back nine regulars who know the ropes.

Andy Sandrik: Cedar Cliff 21, Shippensburg 18: I love the little rivalry that has developed from this cross-division matchup. Great games in recent years. Colts will be hungry for this one against the ‘Hounds, who were responsible for disposing of CC in the playoffs last fall.

Adam Kulikowski: Cedar Cliff 24, Shippensburg 20: I learned long ago never to doubt the chops of the Greyhounds, but graduation hit this squad hard. It takes time to break in a new crew, and the Colts offer a battle-tested bunch in Week 1. 

Northern 13, Red Land 7

Andy Shay: Northern 34, Red Land 20: The Polar Bears have a huge advantage at the skill positions in this one, and that will be too much for the Patriots to handle over 48 minutes. The battle in the trenches will be a more equal battleground, and Red Land will make a case by hanging around.

Andy Sandrik: Northern 28, Red Land 21: Northern is breaking in a new QB, but with Cole Bartram in the lineup who really needs passing, anyway?

Adam Kulikowski: Northern 42, Red Land 14: Bartram and his 1,600 rushing stripes headlines the returning cast for the Northern Polar Bears, who a year ago thumped the Patriots 45-6. Expect a similar result Friday night. 

Hershey 36, Gettysburg 35

Andy Shay: Gettysburg 21, Hershey 10: In many ways these teams are in a similar position in terms of replacing lost key ingredients. Except the Warriors have QB Brady Heiser back under center, and his abilities are the biggest difference maker.

Andy Sandrik: Hershey 17, Gettysburg 10: I’ve had a bad habit of underrating Gettysburg in recent years, and that certainly has cost me on this pick ‘em panel. Some people just never learn. But I think Hershey has enough pieces to steal an upset win in front of the home crowd. 

Adam Kulikowski: Gettysburg 31, Hershey 17: A good QB can mask bumps in the road as new talent gets acclimated to the speed of varsity football. We know Gettysburg has that dude in Brady Heiser, while Hershey is hoping sophomore Cameron Sweeney can become that guy. 

Milton Hershey 35, Susquehanna Township 34

Andy Shay: Susquehanna Township 34, Milton Hershey 20: This is a great first test for two quality teams that should absolutely have postseason aspirations. ‘Hanna was a bit of a surprise story a year ago with how far this group moved the needle. Winning this one would be validation and another big step forward.

Andy Sandrik: Milton Hershey 28, Susquehanna Township 21: Both teams possess size, skill, experience and speed. I think this is more of a coin-flip game than most folks might think.

Adam Kulikowski: Susquehanna Township 32, Milton Hershey 21: Pegged by our own Andy Sandrik to win the Colonial, the Indians are looking to build on a turnaround season in 2022. This will be a nice first step.

Palmyra 50, Lebanon 7

Andy Shay: Palmyra 14, Lebanon 7: Combined, these teams went 1-19 a year ago. The Cougars have most of those players back, but lost a key piece to transfer in the offensive backfield. Coin flip on this one for sure.

Andy Sandrik: Palmyra 21, Lebanon 7: This is perhaps the most winnable game on the schedule for both teams, which makes this a potentially entertaining Week 1 matchup.

Adam Kulikowski: Palmyra 28, Lebanon 6: When your crew struggles like the Panthers did in 2022, you look for anything to provide a spark. Panthers have the edge in this one just as they did a year ago.

Mifflin County 41, Central Mountain 6

Andy Shay: Mifflin County 41, Central Mountain 13: They have a couple quality linemen to replace, but for the most part the Huskies are pretty well stocked with known talent from a six-win season. The Wildcats were 0-10 a year ago, so this is most likely a mismatch.

Andy Sandrik: Mifflin County 44, Central Mountain 21: The Huskies have a lot of returning pop on offense. It’s going to take some kind of an effort for Central Mountain to stop its losing streak.

Adam Kulikowski: Mifflin County 31, Central Mountain 20: Central Mountain last won a ball game in October 2021 — a span of a dozen contests. Huskies won’t be the ones who allow the Wildcats to sip some victory root beer. 

Greencastle-Antrim 17, Big Spring 14

Andy Shay: Big Spring 26, Greencastle-Antrim 20: Couple of squads that lost some major horsepower at the most high-profile positions from a year ago. The Bulldogs have a little more to work with up front on offense and in the backfield. That’s enough for me in an otherwise even landscape.

Andy Sandrik: Big Spring 21, Greencastle-Antrim 18: I think Big Spring deserves to be favored by more than three points, but something tells me this will be a scrappy contest that remains in doubt until the final second ticks away.

Adam Kulikowski: Greencastle-Antrim 24, Big Spring 14: In a game filled with question marks and new faces in both starting lineups, I’ll line up two all-star defensive studs in the run-heavy Colonial any day. And that’s what the Blue Devils have in lineman Parker Funk (6-foot-1, 245 pounds) and linebacker Logan Shifflett (5-11, 185). 

Littlestown 23, Boiling Springs 8

Andy Shay: Littlestown 28, Boiling Springs 24: Tales of two seasons for a Thunderbolts team that went 1-4 the first half of the season a year ago and proceeded to win their final five games. Still think this is a tight shave, but the Bubblers are in a tough division and have a lot of skill player questions to answer. 

Andy Sandrik: Littlestown 24, Boiling Springs 14: I’m going to have to see some consistent production from Boiling Springs before I can start picking the Bubblers in games this year.

Adam Kulikowski: Littletown 38, Boiling Springs 21: Consider this the year of redemption for the Thunderbolts after getting whooped 66-18 last year.

Camp Hill 21, Newport 0

Andy Shay: Camp Hill 37, Newport 14: These Lions are better than you think, but in the very top-heavy Capital Division they are a little lost on the attention meter. They have to be better on defense to finish above .500, and winning favorable matchups like this one is critical. The Buffs just don’t have enough skill dudes to keep pace right now.

Andy Sandrik: Camp Hill 35, Newport 7: Camp Hill is a team that’s been to hell and back with the West Perrys, Big Springs and Steel-Highs of the world. This is a tough matchup for the Buffaloes.

Adam Kulikowski: Camp Hill 45, Newport 13: Lions return a 2,000-yard QB in junior Drew Branstetter. For a club that loves to sling it, that’s a pretty darn good building block. 

Trinity 49, Delone Catholic 12

Andy Shay: Trinity 34, Delone Catholic 14: This is still a solid Delone squad, but they just do not match up well against the Shamrocks. Both wins by Trinity a year ago were blowouts, and the crew from Shiremanstown hasn’t lost many horses.

Andy Sandrik: Trinity 44, Delone Catholic 10: It’s no secret that Trinity has some weapons that could turn this into a lopsided affair rather quickly. 

Adam Kulikowski: Trinity 37, Delone Catholic 20: Each year I have a handful of gents who I look forward to watching play in person. Jordan Hill’s squad possesses one of those dudes in running back Messiah Mickens. If you haven’t seen clips from this cat’s freshman year, fire up Google and take a look — or better yet, buy a ticket to one of the Shamrock games this year.

West Perry 45, Susquenita 22

Andy Shay: West Perry 42, Susquenita 14: I think the Blackhawks, who have yet another head coach, will be part of the conversation in the Liberty Division. They are nowhere near the Mustangs’ level right now. West Perry is hunting for an RB1 for this season. Finding the answer starts in this one.

Andy Sandrik: West Perry 38, Susquenita 7: I’m not that old, but I am old enough to go back with parents of kids on both of these teams. It’s a weird feeling.

Adam Kulikowski: West Perry 45, Susquenita 16: WP’s Marcus Quaker and crew take charge of this one early — that’s more of a testament to how good the Mustangs can be this year than an indication of troubles in Duncannon. 

Waynesboro 21, Spring Grove 3

Andy Shay: Spring Grove 31, Waynesboro 7: The Rockets might have some questions that need answers going into this one, but they do not have more questions than the Indians. Waynesboro is starting from scratch pretty much.

Andy Sandrik: Spring Grove 26, Waynesboro 7: Could be a lean year in Waynesboro this fall. I’m not sure how long the Indians will be able to stick with the Rockets on Friday.

Adam Kulikowski: Spring Grove 24, Waynesboro 13: Former Chambersburg head coach Mark Saunders has the reins of the Indians heading into the 2023 circuit. Filling the cupboard might take a little time in the ‘Boro.

East Pennsboro 37, York Suburban 6

Andy Shay: East Pennsboro 34, York Suburban 20: The Panthers took out YS a year ago and have almost everybody back. That’s enough for me.

Andy Sandrik: East Pennsboro 28, York Suburban 17: I’ve caught some flack for possibly overrating East Pennsboro in my Colonial Division preview. But I stand by my pick, and think the Panthers open with a big win in York County. 

Adam Kulikowski: East Pennsboro 24, York Suburban 21: We’re bullish on the Panthers, but that doesn’t mean they will notch the dub in blowout fashion. Takes a strong effort to notch No. 1 on Friday. 

Hamburg 49, Halifax 19

Andy Shay: Hamburg 42, Halifax 14: I can see where the Wildcats will improve, but the Hawks are coming off a nine-win campaign and have way more known talent in their camp.

Andy Sandrik: Hamburg 45, Halifax 8: Hamburg lost some quality players, but I still see the Hawks and Wildcats being in two completely different tiers.

Adam Kulikowski: Hamburg 38, Halifax 14: I think we will see positive steps in the Halifax program this year. But it’s a tough call to predict a victory in Week 1. 

York Tech 14, James Buchanan 7

Andy Shay: James Buchanan 20, York Tech 7: Slight edge to the Rockets, who will face some tough times ahead in the Liberty Division. Chance to get started right with a lot of new faces.

Andy Sandrik: James Buchanan 24, York Tech 7: Mike Bullock wrote some nice things about Jacob Frey in his Liberty preview for 4th Down. Look for that kid to put up some nice numbers in this one.

Adam Kulikowski: James Buchanan 21, York Tech 14: Both teams likely have this one circled in the winnable-games column. Rockets have more firepower — get it? — to actually get it done. 

Line Mountain 54, Athens 12

Andy Shay: Line Mountain 21, Athens 14: This will not be an easy opener for the Liberty Division favorites, who are experienced but still have another level to discover. The Wildcats are a competitive squad.

Andy Sandrik: Line Mountain 18, Athens 14: I think Line Mountain gets tested, but ultimately prevails, against a Wildcats outfit that has a lot of skill positions to replace. 

Adam Kulikowski: Line Mountain 27, Athens 13: It wasn’t long ago that we were simply hoping the Eagles would find their footing and put some points on the scoreboard. Now, we have them pegged as the favorite in the feisty Liberty Division thanks to a strong returning class featuring 10 returnees on defense and nine more on offense. 

Williams Valley 28, Upper Dauphin 0

Andy Shay: Upper Dauphin 30, Williams Valley 28: Give me the Trojans in this one because … I’m taking Upper Dauphin, that’s why. 

Andy Sandrik: Williams Valley 33, Upper Dauphin 28: Alex Achenbach ran all over UD for 305 yards and five TDs last year, and could very well do it again Friday night.

Adam Kulikowski: Williams Valley 28, Upper Dauphin 27: In years past this would be one of the marquee matchups on the docket in Week 1 — and it still might be, but both teams enter the 2023 circuit with big questions to answer. Edge goes to the lads with Alex Achenbach on their side. 

Pine Grove 20, Northern Lebanon 14

Andy Shay: Pine Grove 20, Northern Lebanon 17: Two evenly matched teams who each ended up below the .500 bar a year ago. Not sure I see a clear advantage for either club here.

Andy Sandrik: Pine Grove 17, Northern Lebanon 7: Pine Grove carries a lot of size on the defensive line and could use that beef to lean on the Vikings and wear them down over four quarters. 

Adam Kulikowski: Pine Grove 31, Northern Lebanon 28: If we’re being honest, it’s a coin flip who ends up on top of this matchup. One thing I do know is that Lane Lehman can be a difference maker for the Cardinals. The 5-10, 175-pound senior led the team last year with 90 tackles and 1,000 rushing yards. Not too shabby. 

Minersville 38, Tri-Valley 34

Andy Shay: Minersville 20, Tri-Valley 13: The Bulldogs took out the Battlin’ Miners twice a year ago, but both games were competitive. Seems like a level playing field and just feels like Minersville is due to get one.

Andy Sandrik: Tri-Valley 14, Minersville 7: Give me the Bulldogs’ defense winning at home, while T-V’s new-look offense learns the ropes in a grind-it-out game. 

Adam Kulikowski: Minersville 24, Tri-Valley 7: Incoming sophomore QB Dante Carr earned valuable reps under center last year for the Battlin’ Miners. Look for the 6-4, 205-pound field general to take a big step forward in 2023.

SATURDAY, AUG. 26

Harrisburg 50, York 20

Andy Shay: Harrisburg 49, York 6: You do not want to be looking to replace your top three rushers and receivers and be playing this Cougars defense. That just isn’t going to end well. Harrisburg will control this one from start to finish.

Andy Sandrik: Harrisburg 38, York 15: Harrisburg certainly has the advantage in the skill department, but York possesses some all-star experience in the trenches. This will be a good test for a new-look Cougars’ line. 

Adam Kulikowski: Harrisburg 45, York 13: The Cougars return a nice core on both sides of the ball, while the Trojans will be searching for playmakers after their top three rushers and receivers all turned their tassels. 

Steel-High 42, Imani Christian Academy 27

Andy Shay: Steel-High 48, Imani Christian Academy 14: Not sure the Saints’ defense has enough tools in their defensive chest to keep up with the Steel-High offense. ICA surrendered more than 30 a game last season. The Rollers punish defenses that struggle at times.

Andy Sandrik: Steel-High 44, Imani Christian Academy 12: Steel-High can, and should, dictate the pace of this game. Gonna be exciting to see how many points these Rollers can put up this fall.

Adam Kulikowski: Steel-High 52, Imani Christian Academy 13: The Rollers have the potential to put up points at a lightning pace. Just when does Andrew Erby let off the gas in Week 1? 

Troy 56, Juniata 21:

Andy Shay: Troy 20, Juniata 13: I still think the Indians are in the hunt to grab the Liberty Division crown, it just feels like playing a rising Troy squad this early on level ground will be a grind. But Juniata grinds better than most.

Andy Sandrik: Troy 24, Juniata 16: The Indians will be just fine as the season progresses, but there are too many question marks to take them over a battle-hardened Troy squad in Week 1. 

Adam Kulikowski: Juniata 24, Troy 21: Judging from my colleagues, this might be an upset. But in Week 1 anything is possible — and I know Kurt Condo’s club always plays tough defense.